Roosters act differently when faced with another chicken versus just their own reflection. This may mean that the roosters can recognise themselves in a mirror, a key test of self-awareness in animals. The way researchers tailored this mirror test to roosters may open up new methods of determining self-recognition in a diversity of animal species. In the traditional mirror self-recognition test, developed in 1970, researchers place a mark on an animal’s body in a spot that it could only see reflected in a mirror. They note if the animal inspects or touches the mark while examining its reflection, suggesting it understands the reflection represents its own body.

Results from this test are often highly variable. Sonja Hillemacher at the University of Bonn in Germany and her colleagues wondered if this has less to do with the animals not recognising themselves, and more to do with the fact that there is little natural motivation for many animals to investigate the marks.

So the team turned to roosters, which loudly alarm other chickens to the presence of nearby predators, but generally stay quiet when alone. In the lab, the researchers tested 68 roosters one by one in a closed area divided down the middle by a wire net. They placed a rooster on one side, and either left the other side empty or put another rooster in it. Then they added a mirror to the divider for some tests. To mimic a threat, they projected the silhouette (轮廓) of an eagle on the ceiling above the area. The researchers found that when a rooster was paired with another rooster, it raised the alarm far more often than when it was alone in the area, regardless of whether it could see its own reflection.

Since the roosters acted similarly when alone and with a reflection, they may realise their reflection is of themselves, the researchers say. This would point to self-recognition possibly being more widespread across the animal kingdom than previously thought, says Hillemacher.

Nathan Emery at Queen Mary University of London thinks it’s premature to say chickens definitely recognise themselves in their reflections. It’s possible the strange behaviour of a reflection.

Nowadays, learning Braille (盲文) is something of a dying art. With thousands of computer programs and other media now available, fewer kids are learning to read Braille and most of them are learning to read by listening. In the United States, less than 10% of the 1.3 million people who are legally blind are Braille readers. However, learning Braille offers students much more than just a way to get information. Listening to information does not teach students how to spell or write well. These skills are better taught by actually reading. This is particularly true when we know that Braille users often are more independent, have a higher level of education and better employment opportunities. Learning to read and write Braille requires lots of practice, which can become dull. This is what the company Lego, which is making Braille Bricks to help blind students learn to read and write, is dealing with. We strongly believe the Bricks can help increase the level of interest in learning Braille.

Instead of the grid (网格) of raised dots normally found on top of Legos, Braille Bricks use the dot groups of the Braille alphabet. This allows the bricks to be “read”, but they still click together like normal Legos. Braille is often written with a special machine called a Brailler. If a student makes the wrong letter using the Brailler, it can’t really be fixed, since the letter is punched (打孔) into paper. Legos, on the other hand, are lots of fun to play with. If a student makes a mistake, fixing it is as easy as moving or changing a brick.

The company is trying the Bricks out with teachers and blind students in schools. Teachers report that students enjoy the Bricks and quickly invent games and fun ways to use them. On Lego’s new Braille Bricks, which are planned to hit commercial stores in the near future, Braille is also translated into numbers and letters allowing parents and educators to follow along.

The Gold Coast teenager Sam Richards founded his drinkware (杯子) business Bellaforte at 13, producing high-quality reusable and recyclable drinkware.

Sam said one day while delivering drinks to his parents at their backyard pool, he dropped them and broke them all. That was a big disaster. He searched the Internet for crystal-like plastic replacements but couldn’t find anything. That got him thinking he should create some unbreakable plastic cups that look great and can be used by the pool.

After sourcing products and producers, Sam began selling his “beautiful plastic cups” in November, 2019 through Amazon Marketplace. Struggling to balance the demands of school and his company, Sam recently sold the business to Una Brands for $1 million after tough negotiations (谈判), according to Yenti Kushor, a manager of Una Brands. “Sam drove a hard bargain. He knew what he wanted,” Kushor said. “It was clear that he did his research and had the numbers to back it up. He didn’t give up until we met his number. He’s a real inspiration to us and we see huge growth potential (潜力) in Bellaforte.”

“It all started when I went to an Amazon conference at 10 years old to learn how to start up an Amazon business,” Sam wrote on his website. “Do simple things well. Do your research and stick to it,” he advised. “90% of people are too scared to take the first step. Don’t let other people who don’t believe in you drag you down.”

His parents, also businessmen, had offered advice and guidance throughout Sam’s building of his business. “We don’t have high expectations,” his father Phil Richards said. “We’re just happy if he goes to school and has brushed his hair.” Sam aims to go to university and major in business and marketing while thinking up new business ideas.